Job 40-41: God Runs the Universe
Monday, August 18, 2025
We have accompanied Job as he questioned the wisdom of God’s plan and defended his innocence against his friends. We have entered into our own intimate dialogs with God as we thirst, complain, seek, defend and question. Today we spend a bit more time with these two chapters as we compare THE MESSAGE translation of these verses with other versions. Today we experience the full impact of the dialog Job has with God. Today we understand not the why or how, but the reality of the fact that God runs the universe.
Chapter 40: Verses 1-2: God then confronted Job directly:
“Now what do you have to say for yourself?
Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?”
What charges do we press against God? What human acts do we blame on the LORD? What do we have to ask and to say?
Chapter 40: Verses 3-5: Job answered:
“I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me.
I should never have opened my mouth!
I’ve talked too much, way too much.
I’m ready to shut up and listen.”
Are we in awe of God? Do we believe we may have said too much or too little? Are we ready to spend time with God each day so that we might listen?
Chapter 40: Verses 6-7: God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
“I have some more questions for you,
and I want straight answers.”
Are we prepared to give God straight answers? Do we have the courage to answer God truthfully? Are we able to willingly and freely admit that God runs the universe?
When we spend time with these chapters and verses today and ask questions as we look through the lens of multiple translations. As we ask honest questions and listen to hard answers, we come to a deeper appreciation of God’s economy and plan.
Images from: https://hanswidener.com/2017/02/09/relinquishing-control-lesson-1/ and https://becomingchristians.com/2013/07/09/scripture-of-the-day-will-you-deny-gods-existence/
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